The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Thursday sealed the Ikeja Electric Plc office in Lagos, accusing the company of “continued and deliberate violation of consumer rights” after failing to comply with a binding regulatory decision issued more than two years ago.
Engr. Idayat Olorungbe, who represented the Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Mrs. Bola Adeyinka, told journalists that the enforcement was necessary after repeated attempts to compel Ikeja Electric to obey a directive from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
NERC had ordered the company to unbundle a Maximum Demand account into 20 separate non-MD accounts to reflect nineteen residential units and a service point owned by a complainant.
The directive also required Ikeja Electric to meter and connect each unit appropriately. Despite reminders, the company reportedly refused to comply.
The FCCPC said the prolonged non-compliance left the complainant without electricity for more than 2.5 years, even after fulfilling all financial obligations demanded by the company. The blackout rendered nineteen residential units unusable during the period.
Olorungbe explained that the Commission had engaged Ikeja Electric for months, including issuing a formal directive in April 2025 with clear compliance steps and timelines.
When no action was taken, FCCPC issued a Compliance Notice on October 2, 2025, giving the company seven business days to comply. That notice was also ignored.
Legal Backing
The Commission stressed that its action was fully backed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
Olorungbe cited Sections 17, 18, 124, 150, and 155, which empower the Commission to intervene, issue directives, enforce compliance notices, and seal premises where violations cause consumer harm.
“This is a proportionate enforcement measure taken only after repeated engagement and several opportunities for voluntary compliance. The seal will remain until Ikeja Electric fully complies with the directives issued by both NERC and the FCCPC and provides written evidence of compliance,” she said.
The Commission reiterated that consumers are entitled to fair treatment, access to essential services, and protection from unfair, coercive, or negligent practices by service providers.
“The Commission will continue to enforce the law to protect these rights and ensure that service providers meet their obligations,” Olorungbe added.
As of press time, Ikeja Electric officials had not publicly responded to the sealing. The enforcement exercise drew attention across Ikeja as FCCPC officials mounted the seal on the facility, marking one of the agency’s strongest moves yet against a power distribution company over prolonged regulatory disobedience.
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